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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief The WEC's bread and butter featherweight division just added another great layer as Rafael Assuncao has signed a multi-fight deal with the Zuffa owned organization.
MMAJunkie.com first reported the signing on Monday.
Assuncao sports a 12-1 record in his mixed martial arts career, including a victory over UFC lightweight Joe Lauzon; by submission, no less. The sole blemish on his record is a decision loss in 2006 to WEC fighter Jeff Curan.
After weighing offers from both the WEC and the upstart Bellator Fighting Championships, the report states it was the relationship built between Assuncao and WEC's matchmaker Sean Shelby that ultimately led to him signing with the organization. Already a stacked division, Assuncao adds another explosive and technically sound 145 pounder to the roster that could be a definite challenger for the Featherweight Title in a short amount of time. The MMAJunkie report states, however, that Assuncao would not be interested in a fight with current Champion Mike Brown, as he will be training with American Top Team.
Penick's Analysis: The awesome featherweight division in the WEC is instantly improved with this addition, and there are a number of potential opponents for Assuncao right off the bat. The WEC continues to build the strength of its core divisions as they phase out the higher weight classes, and they're going to be an even better promotion because of it. While no timetable is set for his debut, it will still be very interesting to see who he gets put in against in his first fight in the blue cage. Assuncao could be a definite challenger for the Featherweight Title as early as the end of this year, as long as Mike Brown's still not Champion. And while Brown is an impressive fighter who pulled of a great victory over Urijah Faber, I don't think he holds the belt past this year at all. There's no way he gets through both Leonard Garcia and a hungrier Urijah Faber if and when they face off again. It will be an interesting year in the 145 lb division, that's for sure.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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